Emergencies Declared As Deep Freeze Hits Deep South : The Two-WayEven in states along the Gulf Coast they're preparing for snow and sleet as brutally cold temperatures spread south. To the north, wind chills will once again make it feel like the temperature's well below zero.

As NPR's Debbie Elliott said earlier today on our Newscast, "snow and ice are rare in typically balmy places like New Orleans, Mobile and the Florida panhandle, but officials are warning residents to get ready for significant accumulations and bitter cold."

"Windy conditions will make temperatures across the northern Plains and Northeast feel as cold as -30F in some locations. On Tuesday, accumulating snow, sleet and ice will make for hazardous travel conditions from South Texas to the Carolinas."

Headlines from some of our public radio friends in the shivering states help tell the story: